Fractional order attitude stability control for sub-satellite of tethered satellite system during deployment

Abstract

• A dynamic model of sub-satellite motion is established based on Euler equation. • The stability characteristics of attitude motion with dissymmetric junction points in the tether deployment phase are proposed. • A feedback linearization method is used to linearize the sub-satellite attitude dynamic model. • The fractional order controller is designed to stably control the sub-satellite attitude. This paper investigates the sub-satellite attitude stabilization control of a tethered satellite system (TSS) during deployment stage. The dynamic model of sub-satellite motion is first established using Euler equations. During the tether deployment stage, the stability characteristics of attitude motion are analyzed with dissymmetric junction points between tether and sub-satellite. Then, a fractional-order attitude controller with memory ability is proposed to achieve stable control of the sub-satellite attitude, in which a dynamic model is linearized by using the feedback linearization method. Finally, validity of the fractional order controller and the advantages over an integer order controller are examined using numerical simulation. Comparing with the corresponding integer order controller, numerical simulation results indicate that the proposed sub-satellite attitude controller based on fractional order can not only stabilize the sub-satellite attitude, but can also respond faster with smaller overshoot.